Rachel Cohen

Rachel Cohen is Professor of Practice in the Arts at the University of Chicago, affiliated with the Creative Writing program in the Division of the Humanities. She maintains a vibrant connection with Chicago's art institutions, including ongoing collaborations with the Smart Museum, the Department of Art History, and the Art Institute of Chicago.

Cohen earned her A.B. from Harvard University in 1994. Her academic journey has led her to become a distinguished writer and educator whose work bridges creative writing and art history.

Professor Cohen's research explores the intersections of writing, art, and intellectual history. Her primary interests include writing about the arts, migration narratives, the practice of reading, and biographical writing. She investigates how essays can reflect multiple perspectives and how creativity emerges through conversations mediated by art and literature across time. Her work often examines the relationship between artistic and intellectual processes.

Cohen's prolific writing career spans major publications including The New Yorker, The Guardian, London Review of Books, and Art in America. Her work demonstrates a consistent focus on artistic friendships, the evolution of aesthetic taste, and the temporal dimensions of visual art. She approaches these subjects through immersive research that often evolves from notebook entries into book-length projects.

Among her notable scientific awards and recognitions:

• Guggenheim Fellowship for work on time and paintings
• Winner of the 2003 PEN/Jerard Fund Award
• Finalist for Guardian First Book Prize
• Finalist for PEN/Martha Albrand first nonfiction award
• Longlisted for the JQ Wingate Prize for "Bernard Berenson: A Life in the Picture Trade"

Professor Cohen actively mentors students through her courses and projects. She leads the Migration Stories Project, which has produced a community anthology, art book exhibitions, public readings, and upcoming chapbooks. As co-advisor for Working Document, she supports student publications. Her teaching focuses on writing about art, contemporary cultural and political life, and migration narratives, helping students develop nonfiction pieces that explore connections between art history, oral history, and visual material.

Through her collaborations with Chicago's major art institutions, Cohen creates meaningful bridges between academic writing and public engagement with art. Her Frederick Project notebook series, published online, exemplifies her commitment to making art historical inquiry accessible beyond academic walls.